John Castillo, a Hispanic activist and political strategist who served three terms on City Council, died over the weekend.

Photo: Ben DeSoto, Houston Chronicle

John Castillo, a Hispanic activist and political strategist who...

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John Castillo talks with supporters at his campaign headquarters while waiting election returns in the Democratic Party Primary race for Harris County Commissioner Precinct 2, in Houston TX, Tuesday evening, March 12, 2002. (Smiley N. Pool/Chronicle) 03/12/02

Photo: SMILEY N. POOL, HOUSTON CHRONICLE

John Castillo talks with supporters at his campaign headquarters...

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The first bribery trial for City Councilmen John Castillo, left, and Michael Yarbrough and former Councilman John Peavy Jr. ended in a mistrial.

Photo: Buster Dean, HOUSTON CHRONICLE

The first bribery trial for City Councilmen John Castillo, left,...

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City councilman John Castillo and wife, Mary Castillo in front of federal courthouse

Photo: Carlos Antonio Rios, Houston Chronicle

City councilman John Castillo and wife, Mary Castillo in front of...

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John Castillo, a Hispanic activist and political strategist who served three terms on City Council, died over the weekend.

Photo: Kerwin Plevka, Houston Chronicle

John Castillo, a Hispanic activist and political strategist who...

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John Castillo, a Hispanic activist and political strategist who served three terms on City Council, died over the weekend.

Photo: Ben DeSoto, Houston Chronicle

John Castillo, a Hispanic activist and political strategist who...

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John Castillo, a Hispanic activist and political strategist who served three terms on City Council, died over the weekend.

Photo: Buster Dean, Houston Chronicle

John Castillo, a Hispanic activist and political strategist who...

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John Castillo, City Council member; developer Ed Wulfe; Mayor Lee Brown; and Mary Margaret Hansen, with the East End Area Chamber of Commerce, at the Gulfgate Shopping Center. John Castillo, a Hispanic activist and political strategist who served three terms on City Council, died over the weekend.

John Castillo, a Hispanic activist and political strategist who served three terms on City Council, died over the weekend.

"John Castillo was among the early political leaders in the Latino community," said Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez. "Along with his brother in-law Leonel Castillo, they paved the way for so many young people."

John Castillo's campaigning and influence helped propel Leonel into the office of city controller, just as he did for numerous other Latino leaders from the East Side. Leonel Castillo died in November.

Shortly after taking office in 1996, Castillo was accused along with two other councilmen in a bribery scheme to influence a city contract for a convention center hotel project. Two federal trials ended in hung juries and the prosecutors dismissed the charges in 1999.

The scandal did not deter Houston voters from twice re-electing him to City Council.